Antichrist Obsession?

Antichrist: The ultimate wolf in masquerade

Some folks believe that people such as yours truly spend too much time talking about the Antichrist and not enough time talking about Jesus Christ.

They're folks such as Dr. Michael Brown, a Jewish believer and a biblical scholar who's brought many of his people to the Lord. Brown's a brilliant guy who holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University. 

But even brilliant folks can be wrong. And while Brown's right that some people are obsessed with the Antichrist, he's wrong to suggest that everyone who talks about the man of perdition doesn't spend enough time talking about Christ.

Here's what Brown said recently in a column published by World Net Daily: I do not object in the least to believers discussing the identity of the Antichrist and to studying what appear to be the relevant scriptures. If it’s in the Word, it’s for us to explore and study and investigate and understand.

Let the debate continue. 

But every previous generation that has focused on the Antichrist has died without seeing him, and so, to be practical, I want to devote my energies to doing whatever I can to please God and make a difference in people’s lives today, living in readiness for whatever may come my way tomorrow, Antichrist or no.

That's great. However, we're living in a time unlike any other time in history. We're living in the end times and we're getting close to the appearance of the Antichrist. We're getting close to a world government, and the Bible warns us that at some point after this government is functioning, the Antichrist will appear and assume control.

But so what? We know that's going to happen. Dr. Brown knows that's going to happen. So, why bother discussing it? Why? Because the Antichrist isn't merely going to be a tyrannical global dictator, he's going to be an elaborate counterfeit of Jesus Christ.

And he's going to deceive millions into following him. How? The apostle Paul explained it: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Christ Himself warned: "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25)

Millions of people who have absolutely no biblical knowledge or spiritual discernment are going to embrace this man when he appears. And when he arrives, he will claim to be--guess who?--Jesus Christ who's returned to end wars, heal the planet and bring peace and prosperity to the world. 

That's why it's important to discuss the Antichrist. He's going to destroy millions--if not billions--of lives. And he's going to send them to hell with his deception. He will do this through his incredible supernatural powers that science will not be able to explain away. And those powers will come from Satan.

That's why many of us have been warning about the counterfeit Signs and Wonders Movement that has grown exponentially within the church over the past 50 years. That movement is based upon an erroneous interpretation of Joel 2:28-32, and claims that a great wave of miracles is going to break out across the world leading to a global revival that will culminate with the return of Jesus Christ.

The Signs and Wonders Movement has its "prophets" who claim that God has revealed to them that the "Great Revival" is getting near. Here's what a "prophet" named Ryan Lestrange claims God told him: I am calling this generation forth to move in the supernatural. Even as the church in the book of Acts went from place to place with power and demonstration, so am I calling this generation to move in power and demonstration. No longer shall the hand of man prevail; no longer shall the wisdom of man stand. 

I have invested the power and authority of My kingdom inside of My family, My sons and daughters. There is an awakening unto fullness, fullness of sonship, fullness of covenant, fullness of position and grace in Me, there is an awakening to the fullness of My power, My kingdom that I have called you to carry. There is a banner of fire being cast over this generation, and I am raising up voices who will release My wind and My breath upon the embers in order to fan the flame. 

This generation is called and marked to burn for Me. This generation is called unto the supernatural. I am raising up and establishing healing ministries in the earth as a sign and a wonder. I am sending forth prophetic ministries in the earth to awaken My people from their slumber and call them back to My heart. The spirit of slumber has blinded the eyes of many and they have been asleep at the wheel while destined journeys and planned exploits have crashed in the spirit and not been fulfilled because they were driving with their eyes closed!   

The Bible reveals no great spiritual awakening preceding the return of Christ. Rather, it speaks of a great apostasy supported by demonic miracles that will deceive many. And that deception will fool multitudes into following a counterfeit messiah who'll destroy their souls.

This is why we warn people about the Antichrist. Not because we're obsessed with him. But rather because we don't want people to be deceived by him. Because he will claim to be Jesus Christ when he appears. And he will sell that con through miracles.

There's only one true Jesus Christ. He came into the world 2,000 years ago and died for the sins of the world on the cross. And everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him will be saved. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-12) There's no greater message than that. That's the alpha and the omega of the Gospel.

But there are counterfeits who claim to be Christ who can't save anyone. And the ultimate counterfeit is coming. It's important to point that out so people won't get fooled by him when he appears. Because he won't be your ordinary false messiah. 

Is that an obsession? I think not.

Trashing the Cash

The Kollektomat: The latest way to tithe in Sweden

Though not many folks equate Sweden with innovation, that country is poised to become the first nation that will completely eliminate cash and switch to a fully electronic economic system.

And why not? Cash and coins represent just two percent of Sweden's economy compared to 7.7 percent in the United States and 10 percent in European nations that use the Euro.

Paper and coins have become so rare in the Scandinavian nation that some churches (yes, they still do have churches in Sweden) have installed Kollektomats, or machines for those who prefer to tithe with debit and credit cards rather than with old fashioned money.

Furthermore, according to the New York Times, at more than half of the branches of the country’s biggest banks, including SEB, Swedbank, Nordea Bank and others, no cash is kept on hand, nor are cash deposits accepted. They say they are saving a significant amount on security by removing the incentive for bank robberies.

Imagine going to a bank and not being able to deposit or withdraw cash. That's unheard of in most countries where cash is still king. But the Swedes have a point; cash encourages bank robberies. And without cash, there's nothing to take. 

Also keep in mind that cash is the lifeblood of organized crime. Drug dealers to street gangs to powerful and violent drug cartels operate exclusively in cash. Anyone with a functional brain understands that if you want to get rid of violent street gangs and reduce gun homicides, you get rid of paper money. Why don't governments do that? Because too many powerful politicians are being paid by the drug cartels not to do that.

However, getting rid of cash won't solve cyber-crime or the theft of credit and debit card numbers. Nor will it solve identity theft. Eliminating cash is just the first step towards a fully electronic and highly intrusive economic system that's coming and will eventually be utilized to keep track of everyone in the world.

How's that going to happen? It's going to happen through what a wealthy venture capitalist named Mark Andreessen calls "second wave technology." What's that? Second wave technology involves installing high-tech microchips in everything from tables to doors to walls that will allow people to make phone calls and access the internet without their smart phones or computers.

According to Andreessen, the new technology will enable the chips to produce virtual three-dimensional screens on the devices they've been installed. You'll be able to make a phone call or go online anywhere without a handheld device.

Andreessen is so confidant in the new technology that he's invested $25 million in companies such as Samsara and Helium that are developing the technology. Here's what he said: The end state is fairly obvious - every light, every doorknob will be connected to the internet. Just like with the web itself, there will be thousands of use cases--energy efficiency, food safety, major problems that aren't as obvious as smartwatches and wearables. 

Still, how will this prevent financial crimes? Another feature of second wave technology involves installing personal barcodes or chips in people that will enable them to use the devices containing the microchips. These barcodes or chips will be unique to each individual and will be useless if they're stolen or removed from their hosts. 

The codes or chips will replace checks, credit and debit cards. You'll never lose them because they'll be permanently installed on you. You won't be able to buy, sell or transact any business without them. And they'll contain all of your personal information as well as your financials. These devices will also serve as GPS monitors in case the authorities want to locate you and quickly.

Doesn't that sound just great? No more robberies, stolen card numbers or identity theft. Indeed, that sounds great until you realize that over 1,900 years ago, the apostle John received a revelation from God concerning the end times and the implementation of a global financial system by a tyrannical world government and its wicked ruler the Antichrist.

Here's what John wrote: "He also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17)

That's where the second wave technology is eventually going to lead. And in order for people to receive these chips or barcodes, they'll be required to swear allegiance to and worship the Antichrist. Those who refuse will be forced to go into hiding and survive on their instincts. If they're caught, they'll be killed. 

Why would anyone refuse these essential devices? Why? Because the Bible warns that those who accept these codes or chips will be damned forever, even if they profess to be Christians. (Revelation 14:9-11)

When will this economic system be implemented? It's still probably many years away. But things can happen quickly. With the world moving steadily toward a global government, that economic system is getting closer. 

Certainly, the technology already exists. And the elimination of paper money is just the first step towards the dreaded prophetic economic system of a one-world government.

The Roman Catholic New World Order

Pope Francis: Preaching Marx over Christ

Islam has been in the news frequently over the past 50 years, and many folks believe that the world's destined to be governed by a caliphate.

Certainly, that seems plausible considering the demographics. Europe is quickly becoming Eurabia with millions of Muslims flooding into that continent from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Add to that equation the declining population of native Europeans, and it seems inevitable that Islam will eventually take over Europe.

However, biblical prophecy makes no mention of Islam during the last days directly preceding the return of Jesus Christ. Though it seems improbable, Islam is destined to go away and for good.

But how will that happen? If Islam is going to disappear from the world, then how's it going to disappear? And who's going to make it disappear?

Though the Bible never reveals how Islam is going to vanish, we can examine prophecy to find the answer. First of all, biblical prophecy predicts that a great counterfeit spiritual revival is going to sweep across the world culminating with the appearance of the dreaded Antichrist. 

Let the apostle Paul explain: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) 

Jesus Christ said this: "At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25)

Secondly, prophecy warns us that when the Antichrist appears and begins performing incredible miracles, the world will bow down to him: "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s (Christ's) book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

The Bible seems to be describing a counterfeit Christian revival that will be ignited by demonic miracles and lead to the Antichrist. Furthermore, the apostle John, who recorded the Revelation in the late 1st century A.D. while in exile from Rome on the island of Patmos, described a world government that will be partnered with a global religion. And the religion that John described sounds very much like the Roman Catholic Church. 

When John recorded the Revelation, the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't appear for another 250 years. And yet John revealed the headquarters of the global religion, (Rome) and he described the colors of the clothing worn by the clergy (purple and scarlet) that are the colors worn by the Roman Catholic priesthood. Is that a coincidence? If it is, it's an amazing one indeed.

But isn't the Catholic Church a has-been? Hasn't she become a proverbial white elephant over the past century? Doesn't she seem destined for extinction? Then how can she make a comeback? How? Remember the explosion of supernatural events the Bible predicts are going to happen. 

And remember that the Virgin Mary (not to be confused with Christ's true mother Miriam) who is highly exalted in the Catholic Church is also recognized by Islam, Hinduism and millions of Protestants. She's recognized by nearly half of the world's seven billion residents. And she holds the key to the coming revival. Also remember the metaphorical woman that John described in his vision (Revelation 17) concerning the global religion. That woman sounds like Mary.

Not ironically, Pope Francis has become one of the leading spokesmen for a New World Order. He's a Marxist who's been calling for a one world government and a massive redistribution of wealth. And not coincidentally, that's part of the global warming-climate change agenda that the Pope has also been promoting.

In his recent encyclical Laudato Si, the Pope reasoned that the world's salvation depends upon a global government: To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority.

That's a euphemism for a one world government. And the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church is calling for it. If that isn't a fulfillment of biblical prophecy concerning the last days, then what is?

The Nightmare on the Horizon

Out of Many: A New Order of the World

Most folks consider the topic of a new world order to be the paranoia of lunatic conspiracy freaks and amillennialists. Few people take that topic seriously because they're convinced that it's never going to happen.

But it's going to happen and in fact, it's been happening for many years. The world is slowly being transitioned from 193 individual nations toward a massive single entity that will have absolute authority over every human being on the planet.

And that's hardly a conspiracy. A world government has been openly discussed for nearly 150 years, going back to the time of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the 18th president of the United States who said this: Influential individuals and groups are pressing for global economic co-operation, global taxes to support the backward territories, a global army and a world government, even for a world-wide moral consciousness. Whatever the future prospects of these recommendations, there is no doubt that the tactics, the methods, the announced aims, fall under the category of social engineering.

Does that sound like a conspiracy? Only to those who aren't paying attention. Fast forward to the 20th century and President John F. Kennedy who said this during a speech he presented to the Newspapers Publishers Association on April 27, 1961: The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and secret proceedings...For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice...It is a system which has conscripted to cast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed.

Not so ironically, Kennedy was assassinated two and a half years later. Did that happen because he exposed something that he was told to keep secret? We'll never know. 

However, we do know that biblical prophecy revealed an end time global government nearly 2,800 years ago in an allegorical prophecy recorded by Isaiah in the 8th century B.C. Isaiah used the King of Assyria as a metaphor for the Antichrist and his global government: "By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp." (Isaiah 10:13-14)

About two centuries later, the prophet Daniel described an allegorical vision he received from God concerning the rise of global government in the last days. Daniel described this government as the final of four world empires that would rise and fall before the return of Jesus Christ. Here's what he wrote: "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns." (Daniel 7:7)

And the apostle John, who recorded the Bible's final book, the Revelation, in about 90 A.D., described this vision he was given by God concerning an end time world government: "And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:1-2)

The 10 horns or crowns represent the 10 nation-group confederacy of this coming global government. And the seven heads that John saw represent seven rulers or kings who will govern these groups. And of course, they'll be under the authority of the Antichrist.

How close are we to a world government? Michael Snyder of the economiccollapseblog.com writes this: From September 25th to September 27th, the United Nations launched a “new universal agenda” for humanity.  Those are not my words, they actually come directly out of the core document for this new agenda.  The Pope traveled to New York City to give the address that kicked off this conference, thus giving his considerable endorsement to this new plan.  Virtually every nation on the entire planet willingly signed up for the 17 goals that are included in this plan, but this stunning turn of events made very few international headlines.

What is this new agenda? Snyder continues: The UN is not asking permission, but issuing a command that the entire planet will commit to 17 sustainable development goals and 169 sustainable development targets designed to radically transform our world by 2030. The UN 2030 plan promoted by the Pope (Francis) will advance Agenda 21 on steroids. Through a controlled media the mass populations will be told that this is all about saving the environment and “ending poverty.” But that is not the true agenda of Agenda 21. The true agenda of Agenda 21 is to establish a global government, global economic system, and global religion. When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon spoke of “a dream of a world of peace and dignity for all” this is no different than when the Communists promised the people a “workers paradise.”

Indeed. The apostle Paul wrote this concerning those who will be convinced that they've saved the world and humanity by creating a world government: "While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

A world government that possesses absolute authority over every human being will result in tyranny, oppression, persecution and mass murder. And that's coming. The U.N. wants that in place by 2030. That's only 15 years away. It remains to be seen whether that will happen that soon. But it will happen eventually. And God have mercy on those who are around to see it happen.

The Battle for Jerusalem

The Dome of the Rock

Why does it seem like the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are always in the news lately? Israel is a small nation that possesses few natural resources. And Jerusalem is certainly an old city with a lot of history. But there are a lot of old cities throughout the world that possess a significant amount of history.

Why then should Israel matter? Certainly, three major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) have historical roots in that city. In fact, Judaism claims that Jerusalem belongs to the Jews and no one else while Islam claims that city belongs to the Muslims and to no one else. 

And the Christians? The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church claim that Jerusalem belongs to them while Protestants and Evangelicals claim that Jerusalem belongs to both Jews and Christians.

Why do the Catholic and Orthodox churches claim that Jerusalem belongs to them and not to the Jews? Because they embrace Replacement Theology that teaches that God rejected the Jews after they corporately rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah 2,000 years ago: Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. All the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel can be divided into two camps: either the church is a continuation of Israel (replacement/covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism).

Thus, Replacement Theology plays a very important role in the future of Jerusalem and the events leading up to the appearance of the Antichrist, Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ. But how? Because the Catholic and Orthodox churches believe that in order for Christ to return and set up His earthly kingdom, He must have a temple to return to. Therefore, the Catholic Church must control Jerusalem in order for that temple to be built.

Obviously, that can't happen as long as Islam's third holiest site, the Dome of the Rock, occupies the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where the Jewish Temple existed until 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed that building during their invasion of Jerusalem.

But that still doesn't solve the mystery as to why Jerusalem has become one of the focal points of world affairs in the last days. Why is Jerusalem so important to the world? It's the epicenter between good and evil being fought in the spiritual realm. The apostle Paul explained it best: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

The battle for Jerusalem has become the battle being fought between God and Satan for eternity. That city was given by God to the Jews and to no one else. It's known as the city of David where God's presence on earth dwelled in two ancient temples that existed on the Temple Mount. 

And Jerusalem is the city where Jesus Christ will rule the world when He returns. And according to the prophetic events revealed in the Bible concerning the last days, Christ's return is getting near. That's why the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem have become so visible since Israel was reestablished as a world nation once again in 1948 after it had been voided by Roman Emperor Hadrian in 130 A.D.

Satan desperately wants to prevent Jesus Christ's return because that spells his doom. Therefore, he's tried to destroy the Jewish people and the nation of Israel since the ancient times. Having failed to exterminate the Jews through the Holocaust, he's encouraged Israel's hostile Islamic neighbors to annihilate the Jewish nation since 1948.

Today's so-called two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians is his latest attempt to destroy Israel. There can be no two-state solution. As long as Islam exists, the Muslim world will attempt to destroy Israel because the Koran teaches that the Imam Mahdi (Islamic messiah) cannot appear and establish his global caliphate until Israel is gone and all the Jews have been eliminated from the world.

However, Islam will be going away while Israel will continue to exist. How can we be sure of that? Because Israel will be allowed to rebuild her coveted Temple on the Temple Mount. But how is that going to happen? And who will have the authority to make that happen? The Antichrist will be the man who will make that happen after he rids the world of Islam. But how? By force.

Israel will never be able to rebuild her Temple as long as Islam exists. Therefore, Islam has to go away. But how do we know that the Antichrist will authorize the rebuilding of Israel's third temple? The prophet Daniel, who lived about 2,600 years ago, gave us a clue: "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (Daniel 9:27)

What is this covenant? It will be a treaty that this diabolical world ruler will sign with Israel. The Antichrist will promise to protect the Jewish nation from her enemies and allow her to rebuild her coveted temple in exchange for her sovereignty. What is this 'seven'? That will be the time-period of the treaty. Israel will be offered protection and a new temple if she agrees to give up her sovereignty to this world ruler for seven years.

And what is this "abomination that causes desolation"? When the temple reopens, the daily sacrifices spelled out in the Mosaic Law will be reinstituted. However, in the middle of the seven-year treaty, the Antichrist will cancel the sacrifices and will defile the Temple with his presence. The apostle Paul explained: "He (Antichrist) will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

The Antichrist will be an elaborate counterfeit of Jesus Christ. And he will come through the Roman Catholic Church via Russia. For that to happen, the Catholic and Orthodox churches must reunite after their 1,000-year separation. Realize that the Orthodox Church came from the Catholic Church. And realize that the Catholic Church believes that Jerusalem belongs to her and not to the Jews. Therefore, it's imperative that the coming world ruler drives Islam out of the world so he can have Israel build him his temple.

Greek-Melchite Archbishop Cyrille Bustros said it best concerning the Orthodox Church's position that the Jews no longer have any right to claim Jerusalem as their capital city: "We Christians cannot speak of the promised land as an exclusive right for a privileged Jewish people. This promise was nullified by Christ." 

The Catholic and Orthodox churches believe that while the old Jerusalem belonged to the Jews, the "new" Jerusalem belongs to them and they must take control of that city in order for "Christ" to return.

Joel Bainerman of RedMoonrising.com writes: The Roman Catholic Church wants Israel to lose sovereign control over the Old City of Jerusalem so that the promises to the literal descendants of Abraham will be applied to the "New Jerusalem." If Israel controls Jerusalem it is evidence that Rome's claims are not legitimate and that the literal interpretation of Scriptures is correct. There is no place for the restoration of the nation of Israel in its theology. How can the Vatican claim to be "the New Jerusalem" and "rightful heir to the Kingdom of God" if the Jews control Jerusalem? How is the Catholic Church going to convince the world that its version of theology is correct?

How do we know that the Catholic Church will play an important role in a world government, the rise of the Antichrist and the prophetic third temple in Jerusalem? From an allegorical vision that the apostle John received from God while in exile from Rome on the desolate island of Patmos in about 90 A.D. John "saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries." (Revelation 17:3-4)

Who is this mysterious woman? She represents the global religion that will be partnered with a global government that was depicted in John's vision as the scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. What's the identity of this religion? The woman represents the Roman Catholic Church.

But how can we be sure of that? John revealed the world headquarters of this religion; it's a city that's surrounded by seven hills. (Revelation 17:9) What city is that? There are only two cities in the world that are surrounded by seven hills; Rio de Janeiro that's located in Brazil and Rome that's located in Italy. The Vatican is located in Rome and is the world headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

Furthermore, John saw this title written on the woman's forehead: Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother of Prostitutes And of The Abominations of The Earth. (Revelation 17:5) And furthermore, John described the colors of the woman's dress as purple and scarlet. (Revelation 17:4) 

Purple and scarlet are the colors worn by the Roman Catholic priesthood. And Mystery Babylon is an historical moniker that the Catholic Church has used to describe herself. When John recorded the Revelation, the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence for another 250 years. Was John's vision merely a coincidence? That's extremely unlikely.

And so, Israel isn't going away and the Jewish nation is going to build her Third Temple under the authority of the dreaded Antichrist. But when? When the Antichrist becomes the ruler of a world government.

Vatican II spelled out the Catholic Church's ambition to unite all the world's religions under Rome and to take possession of Jerusalem: In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship. One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth. One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men, until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light. (Declaration On The Relation of The Church to Non-Christian Religions, Nostra Aetate, October 28, 1965)

The "Holy City" that Vatican II mentioned is Jerusalem, not Rome. When the world is united as one under a world government, the Antichrist will move his throne to Jerusalem (Daniel 11:45) where he will declare himself God to the world in the new Temple. How close are we to seeing this happen? We are getting very close.

Armageddon: The Final Battle

The map of the last great battle on earth

Russia, the Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Israel, Islam, the Antichrist, the Third Jewish Temple and Armageddon. Those are the elements that will play a role in the final battle on earth between good and evil. And that battle will be Armageddon.

Those are a lot of elements. Though they don't all seem to be related, they are. For example, the Roman Catholic Church will rise to prominence once again in Russia when the Catholic and the Orthodox churches reunite after 1,000 years of separation.

That will open the prophetic door for the dreaded Antichrist to come from Russia. Though his throne will initially be in Rome, he will move to Jerusalem where he will rule the world. And he will authorize the rebuilding of the third Jewish Temple in Jerusalem where he will declare himself God to the world.

In order for that to happen, he will have to tear down the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque that have been located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem since the 8th century A.D. And in order for that to happen, he will have to drive Islam out of the Middle East and out of the world completely. No third Jewish Temple can or will be built until Islam is permanently gone from the world.

Islam won't go easily. It's a violent religion whose adherents believe that the world must be converted by the sword if necessary and all those who resist must be murdered before Judgment Day can come. Thus, no ordinary political leader will be able to achieve what the Antichrist will accomplish. When he rids the world of Islam, he will be considered a hero. 

However, his power will come from a dark spiritual source. The apostle John, who recorded the Revelation in about 90 A.D. while in exile from Rome, wrote this: "The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:2) Who is this dragon? He is Satan. And the beast is the Antichrist.

Therefore it will be Satan himself who will enable this man to have Israel's third Temple constructed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But why would Satan allow Israel to exist and permit the Jewish nation to rebuild its coveted temple if he hates the Jews and seeks Israel's destruction? 

Because he wants the world to worship him as God and his man the Antichrist as his messiah. But the Jews don't accept Christ, and they would certainly never allow the Antichrist to enter their temple and declare himself to be God or Jesus Christ. Not willingly. However, at some point after the Temple is up and running, "he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (Daniel 9:27)

How do Russia and the Catholic Church factor into this? The Antichrist will come from Russia (Daniel 11, Ezekiel 38-39) and he will be a miracle-worker. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) He will be both a political and religious figure who will assume absolute control over a world government. (Daniel 8, Revelation 13) And he will be a Roman Catholic. (Revelation 17)

Like the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church believes that Jerusalem belongs to her alone and not to the Jews or the Muslims. And the Catholic Church believes that she has been ordained by God to bring the entire world into the Roman church and construct a new temple for Christ in Jerusalem in preparation for his return. Though the Catholic Church claims to be Christ's one and only true church on earth, she isn't and never was. She's a counterfeit that's persecuted multitudes during her history and has sent multitudes to hell with her false gospel.

Is that a bit harsh? It isn't. Not coincidentally, there's Satan worship going on in the Vatican. And that comes from reliable sources such as Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo and the late Catholic scholar and historian Malachi Martin. 

Also, I learned from a personal source whose late brother--a Jesuit priest who taught at Georgetown University for many years--confirmed that Satan worship indeed occurs inside the Vatican. Who worships the devil inside the Vatican? We don't know. However, it's incredulous that Pope Francis and his predecessors wouldn't know about this. Perhaps they're involved in it.

But what about Armageddon? How will that happen? When the Antichrist enters the Temple in Jerusalem, he will declare himself God to the world and he'll demand the Jews worship him. When they refuse, he'll order Israel's destruction by calling for the armies of the world to gather in the plain of Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley to annihilate the Jewish nation. (Zechariah 14, Ezekiel 38-39) At that point, Christ will return and rescue Israel by destroying those armies.

Concerning that battle, Christ said this: "So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again." (Matthew 24:15-21)

Certainly, Armageddon is still a long way off. But it's coming. And it could come quickly. That depends on when Russia builds her dreaded military coalition and when the Catholic and Orthodox churches reunite. And of course, when the Antichrist appears and begins dazzling the world with his supernatural tricks.

The Devil's Temple

Biblical prophecy reveals that a third Jewish Temple is going to be built in Jerusalem. That seems impossible when you consider that the whole world literally has turned against Israel these days.

Israel's days seem numbered and many people who despise the Jewish nation hope those days are few. But Israel's not going anywhere. The Jewish nation is going to survive and rebuild her coveted Temple that vanished nearly 2,000 years ago.

But how's that going to happen? Currently, Islam's Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque occupy the Temple Mount that the Jewish Temple once occupied until it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The Al Aqsa Mosque is Islam's third holiest site, and if Israel tried to remove that structure, a violent war would break out in Jerusalem that would likely involve many nations.

And so, Islam's Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque will be removed by none other than the Antichrist when he assumes control of a world government. Before he authorizes the new Temple, he will have cleared Islam out of the Middle East and beyond.

How? By force. He will outlaw Islam and all other religions, and he will require everyone to swear allegiance to him and his government. The apostle John wrote: "He also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name." (Revelation 13:16-17)

Those who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed if they're caught. Those who are fortunate to elude capture will have to survive on their own instincts because they won't have the Antichrist's dreaded mark. But Islam will certainly no longer exist.

Why will the Antichrist want to protect Israel and allow that nation to rebuild her temple? Because at some point, he will enter that building with a specific purpose. The apostle Paul wrote: "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

This man's purpose for the Temple is to establish a place where the world will be required to worship him. But Israel would never cede her sovereignty to him under such circumstances.

Therefore, in exchange for Israel's sovereignty, he will offer to protect the Jewish nation from her enemies (Daniel 9:27) and allow Israel to rebuild her Temple and resume its daily sacrifices as specified by the Mosaic Law. But he will later cancel those sacrifices and set himself up as God in the new Temple.

That seems almost too incredible to be believable. And those who are ignorant of the spiritual war that's been going on between God and Satan since the beginning of time certainly don't understand what this is all about. Satan wants to be God. He wants to be worshiped as God, a fact that the prophet Isaiah revealed nearly 2,800 years ago. (Isaiah 14:9-20)

Satan doesn't want to be worshiped as Allah, Krishna, Baal or Molech. He wants to be worshiped as Jesus Christ. And he wants to fool human beings into believing that his man the Antichrist is the genuine Christ when he appears. And tragically, millions of biblically illiterate people will fall for this counterfeit when he arrives.

Remember that this counterfeit won't be your run-of-the-mill false messiah. He'll be backed by satanic power. Paul wrote: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

This counterfeit will come from the Roman Catholic Church. (Revelation 17) The Catholic Church believes that Jerusalem belongs to her alone and to no one else. She also believes that she must build Christ a new temple so he can return and establish his earthly kingdom. Therefore, it's imperative to Rome that she acquire Jerusalem and build Christ's temple in preparation for his return.

In the final part, who Rome's "Christ" really is and what's going to happen when he defiles Israel's new temple.

The Dreaded Reunion

Pope Francis with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

How could a reunion of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches possibly be relevant to end-time prophecy, Israel and the coming third Temple?

How? This is how: If the dreaded Antichrist is going to be both a religious and political figure who will come from Russia, then he will have to be a Roman Catholic. 

That seems impossible considering that Russia's official church is the Orthodox Church. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have been separated since 1054 A.D. Why did they separate? Because the eastern church wanted to be under the authority of the Bishop of Constantinople rather than the Pope. And so, they separated. Since then, the Catholic Church has been virtually invisible in Russia.

But what does that have to do with Israel and the prophetic third Temple that must be built before the return of Jesus Christ? It has to do with this: The Roman Catholic Church considers herself to be God's chosen people, having replaced the Jewish people 2,000 years ago when the Jews corporately rejected Christ as their Messiah and had Him crucified. Since the Eastern Orthodox Church came from the Catholic Church, it has many things in common with Rome, including the belief that God replaced Israel with the church when the Jews rejected Christ.

Therefore, both the Catholic and Orthodox churches believe that Jerusalem belongs to them rather than to the Jews or Muslims. And both churches believe that Jesus Christ cannot return and establish His kingdom on earth until the "church" claims Jerusalem for itself and builds a new temple for Christ to dwell in.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin is an Orthodox Christian, he understands just how important Jerusalem is to his church. Therefore, he will not allow Israel to be destroyed and Jerusalem to be taken over by the Muslims.

That's one of the reasons why he wants to rebuild the Russian Empire into a global empire. He wants to drive Islam out of the eastern world and eventually out of the world completely. And he wants Russia to be the head of a new global Christian empire, not unlike the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages. Will this happen? Yes, it will. But it could take many years.

In the mean time, the Catholic and Orthodox churches must reunite. Is that going to happen? Yes, and both churches have been working on that reunification for several years.

Last year, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in Istanbul to discuss the reunification. Here's what Francis said: I want to assure each one of you here that, to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith. The one thing that the Catholic church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, 'the church which presides in charity,' is communion with the Orthodox churches.

Bartholomew called the process "irreversible." Here's what he said: We no longer have the luxury of isolated action. The modern persecutors of Christians do not ask which church their victims belong to. The unity that concerns us is regrettably already occurring in certain regions of the world through the blood of martyrdom.

When this reunion takes place, the Catholic Church will regain her standing in Russia. The Antichrist will be a Roman Catholic who'll attract the world's attention when he begins performing incredible miracles in Russia. He will be looked upon as a savior who will rescue the planet from the forces of darkness and evil.

The apostle Paul explained: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

For centuries, many biblical scholars were convinced that the dreaded Antichrist will come from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther, a former Catholic Monk who became the father of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, knew just how vile and corrupt his former church was. Concerning the papacy, he said this: We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist. Personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.

And Cotton Mather (1663-1728), a Puritan minister and Congregational Theologian said this: The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them. 

But how will this man convince Israel to cede her sovereignty to him? And how will he manage to remove the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem so the new Jewish Temple can be built? In Part IV, the new temple and Armageddon.

Israel, Russia and Armageddon Pt. II

The proposed Third Temple

With anti-Semitism spreading across the world once again, it seems as though Israel's days are numbered. Not only do Israel's hostile Islamic neighbors call for the destruction of the Jewish nation, but a growing number of nations beyond the Middle East would like to see Israel gone as well.

Why? Because these nations believe that if Israel goes away, then terrorism will cease and everyone will live happily ever-after. That's an erroneous belief because as along as Islam exists, there will always be terrorism. Many Muslims can't even coexist peacefully with each other as evidenced by the centuries-old hostilities between Sunnis and Shiites.

In fact, part of the current conflict going on in Syria involves Sunnis against Shiites. ISIS, the terror organization that Barack Obama disdainfully dismissed as a "Jayvee" squad, consists of Sunnis while the Iranians, who are fighting ISIS in Syria, are Shiites. 

Since Sunni Muslims far outnumber Shiites, the Iranians don't want Syria to fall to ISIS which would give the terror group control of that nation and Iraq, and put them on Iran's doorstep. Thus, the Iranians are fighting ISIS in Syria so that don't have to fight them in Iran. And certainly, if ISIS triumphs in Syria, then Israel will be in grave danger because Syria sits directly north of the Jewish nation.

While both ISIS and Iran want Israel erased from the Middle East, Iran will likely triumph in this battle because they've been joined by the Russians who are battling ISIS in Syria to keep the terror group out of Russia. If Syria's government falls to ISIS, the terror group will likely march northward towards Russia. That's why Russian President Vladimir Putin desperately wants to keep Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in power.

If Russia and Iran win this battle--and they will--then what happens next? Russia will assume control of the Middle East and install political leaders that will do Moscow's bidding. They will be responsible for controlling religious fundamentalism and cracking down hard on terror groups that possess an apocalyptical vision for a global caliphate.

How will Russia control Iran? They won't. Rather, the Russians will allow the United States to take out Iran's thuggish theocratic regime and destroy the Persian state's nuclear facilities before Moscow installs a puppet regime that will be controlled by the Kremlin. 

Russia won't allow anyone to attack Israel because the Jewish nation contains a large population of Russian Jews, and Russia has growing economic interests in Israel. Plus, Israel possesses the best intelligence of any nation in the world. The Russians need Israel's intelligence so they can prevent trouble in that region before it begins. 

But Russia's Orthodox Church, that once upon a time belonged to the Roman Catholic Church until they separated about 1,000 years ago, wants Russia to control Israel because the church believes that Jerusalem belongs to it and not to the Jews or to Islam. Like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church believes that it replaced the Jews as God's chosen people when the Jews corporately rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah 2,000 years ago and had Him crucified.

And like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church believes that it must assume control of Jerusalem in order for Christ to return and set up his earthly kingdom. Thus, Israel must come under the control of Russia. And, as prophecy reveals, the Third Jewish Temple must be constructed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in preparation for Christ's return.

But how will that happen? Islam's Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque currently occupy the Temple Mount where Herod's Temple once existed. If Israel tried to remove those buildings, a bloody and violent war would break out in Jerusalem and that conflagration would likely lead to the destruction of the Jewish nation.

And yet, biblical prophecy reveals that the Third Temple will be built on the Temple Mount. (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4) Who will have the authority to make that happen? The Antichrist who will offer Israel the ultimate deal; Israel's sovereignty in exchange for the coveted Temple. No other man could possibly achieve this. But remember that this man will be empowered by Satan himself. (Revelation 13:2)

And the Antichrist will have an ulterior motive for the construction of the new temple. The apostle Paul wrote this: "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

But when will this happen? And where will this man come from? And what will happen when this man defiles the new temple? In part III; the dreaded reunion.

Israel, Russia and Armageddon Pt. I

Return of the dreaded Russian Bear

Iran's Supreme Religious Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicts that Israel will no longer exist in 25 years. Though Iran's religious ruler believes that Allah has decreed Israel's destruction, Israel isn't going anywhere, either in 25 years or sooner.

However, Khamenei and his fellow mullahs are going away, and that could be very soon. Well, who says? Biblical prophecy says, and Iran's doom could be coming sooner rather than later. Nearly 2,600 years ago, the ancient prophet Daniel received a vision from God concerning the destruction of the Persian nation. 

The nation that will bring about Iran's downfall will be the United States before America falls from her standing as the world's leading superpower. Who will replace America? Daniel revealed that four nations (Daniel 8:22) will succeed the United States as the new global powers.

Two of those nations are China and Russia that are emerging as America's successors; China as an economic, industrial and technological giant, and Russia as a political and military giant. The other two nations could be India and Germany. But China and Russia are the nations to watch because their rise to world dominance is not only spectacular, but prophetic as well. (Daniel 11)

Will Iran be completely destroyed? No, but Iran's nuclear facilities will be destroyed and its thuggish, theocratic Shiite regime will be replaced by a more benevolent government that will eventually be under Russia's authority.

When will this take place? It could take place during America's next presidential administration, following the catastrophic nuclear deal orchestrated by the Obama administration that enabled Iran to become a nuclear power. Whenever it happens, it's going to happen because it was decreed by God long ago. And then Russia will pick up the pieces and take control of Iran.

And so, Israel isn't going anywhere. Thus, those who insist that the coming dreaded Antichrist is going to be Islamic are ignorant of biblical prophecy. No Islamic Antichrist would ever allow Israel to exist and permit the Jewish nation to rebuild her coveted Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where Islam's Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque currently exist.

Those buildings will have to be torn down in order for the Jewish Temple to be constructed. How will that happen? The Antichrist will likely make that happen. No other man could possibly have the authority to accomplish that. If Israel attempted to rebuild her Temple, that would ignite a violent bloody war in Jerusalem that would likely involve more than just Israel's hostile neighbors. The entire world would likely join in the fight to destroy Israel, and Armageddon would happen sooner rather than later.

The Antichrist will allow the Temple to be constructed because he will be backed by satanic power. (Daniel 8:24, Revelation 13:2) But why on earth would he allow Israel to rebuild her Temple when the Jewish nation is so reviled across the world? Because he'll have an ulterior motive. The apostle Paul explained: "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

Where will the Antichrist come from? He'll come from Russia. But how can we possibly know that? Because Daniel revealed that the nation he comes from will be a powerful northern kingdom. (Daniel 11) How can we determine that's Russia? Because the Bible always places Israel at the center of its geographical map. And Russia is located directly to the north of Israel.

Furthermore, the prophet Ezekiel, who also lived about 2,600 years ago, revealed that a powerful nation he identified as Gog will invade a small country in the last days along with a vast military coalition, preceding the return of Jesus Christ. (Ezekiel 38-39) Who is Gog? Gog was an ancient name for the Caucasian tribe of Rosh that many modern Russians are descended from.

Here are the words that Ezekiel recorded from the Lord: The word of the Lord came to me. "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you."  (Ezekiel 38:1-6)

Who is this nation that Russia will invade along with her military coalition? Ezekiel continued: "Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them. After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land." (Ezekiel 38:7-9)

Russia's invasion of Israel will be known as Armageddon. But why would the Antichrist decide to destroy Israel after he allowed the Jewish nation to rebuild her Temple? Stay tuned. 

Vladimir Putin: Friend, Foe or Fiend?

Is Russian President Vladimir Putin the Antichrist? Only to some folks who fear that Putin intends to rebuild the old Soviet Empire through military force.

Putin's not the Antichrist. Rather, he's a shrewd and ruthless political leader who takes no prisoners when it comes to those who oppose and cross him. Just ask former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky who served eight years in prison, (2005-2013) allegedly for financial fraud.

In reality, Khodorkovsky was one of Putin's most outspoken critics until he was jailed. Before he was arrested, Khodorkovsky was one of the richest men in the world with an estimated wealth of $15 billion. When he was released from prison two years ago, his wealth was estimated at $100-200 million. Did Khodorkovsky's harsh criticism of Putin have anything to do with his incarceration and loss of wealth? Does the sun come up in the east?

Indeed it does. And indeed, Putin's not a nice guy when it comes to his enemies. But he's not stupid either, unlike many western political leaders who see the world much differently than he does. Putin deals in reality rather than in the fantasies and social theories that his western counterparts deal in.

For example, western leaders such as President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel are convinced that the upheaval going on in Iraq, Syria and Libya is caused by poverty and joblessness. Putin knows that it was caused by ignorant western leaders who believed they could replace strongmen dictators such as Assad, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gaddafi with benevolent leaders disposed to "democracy."

Why has Putin put Russian troops in Syria? To protect Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by destroying the coterie of rebels from "freedom-fighters" to ISIS that marched into Syria after the United States pulled its troops out of Iraq. Though Assad's a brutal man who has used force and torture against his enemies, he's kept a lid on terrorism and religious fundamentalism in Syria.

There are those who want Assad out of Syria--western leaders who want to a more "democratic" leader to rule that nation, and Islamists who want Assad out so they can reestablish a caliphate in that region that vanished 90 years ago with the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Why does Putin need Assad? Because if Assad falls, ISIS will take over that nation and begin moving northward into nations such as Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Those are Muslim nations that will offer no resistance to ISIS. And Russia sits to the north of these nations. Thus, the Russians can either deal with ISIS in Syria, or they can deal with the jihadists in Russia. Since Russia's too massive of a nation to build a fence around, Putin plans to do away with ISIS and the American-trained rebels who are fighting Assad in Syria before they begin moving northward toward the Bear.

And if Putin succeeds and keeps Assad in power? Then what? Will Putin abandon the Middle East? Hardly. With the United States retreating from the world stage, Putin plans to reshape the Middle East according to his worldview. That means that Islamists will eventually be driven from the Middle East into the west where they will cause havoc and destruction before Russia eventually extends her power across the entire world.

Here's what Putin said in a speech to the Russian Duma in 2013: :"In Russia, we live as Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, and live the life of Muslims, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law. Russia does not need Muslim minorities. Minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell discrimination."

Putin clearly means that Islam has no future in Russia. And if he has his way, Islam won't have a future in many other places on the planet. Taking a swipe at the west, Putin said this: "We will not tolerate disrespect of our Russian culture. We had better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Muslims are taking over those countries and they will not take over Russia. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of Sharia Law and Muslims. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the Russian national interest first, observing that the Muslim minorities are not Russians." 

Putin indeed plans on building a new Russian empire. And unlike the old Soviet Union, the new empire will be a global one. Who says? Biblical prophecy says. Two ancient prophets--Daniel and Ezekiel--who lived about 2,600 years ago, revealed the rise of Russia as a world power in the last days (Daniel 11, Ezekiel 38-39). 

And we're beginning to see that happen. It will take time; perhaps many years. But it's going to happen. And the dreaded Antichrist will eventually come from this rejuvenated superpower. Thus, Russia's ascent to global dominance is no coincidence. It's prophetic. And in some ways, Vladimir Putin has become a foreshadow of the coming Antichrist.

The Catholic Church and the Apocalypse

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

In the late 1st century A.D., the apostle John received an incredible vision from God that he recorded into what became known as the Apocalypse or the Book of Revelation. John's vision revealed the end times on earth concerning the rise of a one-world government and a powerful ruler who will be known as the Antichrist who will lead this government.

But that's not all John witnessed. He saw something else that was extremely unusual; a garishly dressed prostitute that sat high atop a huge red beast that possessed seven heads and 10 horns. (Revelation 17) John was familiar with the beast--it's symbolic for the future world government that will feature 10 nation groups headed by seven powerful kings who will be under the authority of the Antichrist.

But what about this mysterious woman? Who is she? John wrote this: "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries." (Revelation 17:3-4)

Furthermore, John saw this message stamped on the woman's forehead: Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Prostitutes And Of The Abominations Of The Earth. (Revelation 17:5) And then, John wrote this: "I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." (Revelation 17:6)

Who is this metaphorical woman? She represents a powerful religion that will be partnered with the global government. But what religion is this? John received an additional clue: The woman resides in a city that's surrounded by seven hills. (Revelation 17:9)

Only two cities fit that description: Rio de Janeiro that's located in Brazil and Rome that's located in Italy. The Vatican is located in Rome and is the world headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. When John recorded the Revelation in about 90 A.D., the Catholic Church didn't exist and wouldn't come into existence for another 250 years.

But that's not all. The colors of the harlot's dress--purple and scarlet--are the colors worn by the Roman Catholic priesthood. And Mystery Babylon? That's a moniker that the Catholic Church has used for centuries to describe herself. And the golden cup that she held in her hand resembles the golden chalice used in the Catholic sacrament of the Eucharist.

Whose blood is this woman drunk with? The blood of Christian martyrs. For centuries, the Catholic Church persecuted many non-Catholic Christians who refused to join the church and serve the Roman papacy. During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church slaughtered tens-of-thousands of Albigensians and Waldensians for refusing to join the church.

How does all of this fit in the end times? Isn't the Catholic Church in decline? Hasn't she lost millions of members over the past 100 years? Indeed, she has. But she's going to recover. But how? Through an explosion of counterfeit miracles that will spread across the world and will eventually usher in the Antichrist.

When will this happen? We don't know. But we do know this; when the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches reunite after their 1,000 year separation, then the end will be near. Last fall (November 2014), Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met in Istanbul to discuss this inevitable reunion. Afterward, they indicated that the two churches are getting closer to reuniting.

And when that happens? The apostle Paul prophesied this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

What's so significant about this reunification? It will open a prophetic door to the Antichrist. But how? He will come from Russia where the Orthodox Church holds great power. http://www.prophecyreviewonline.org/apps/articles/default.asp

And so, keep your eyes on the Catholic Church. She's going to play an important role in the rise of a world government, and in the Antichrist as well.